Illini on the upswing as they try to break losing streak against Badgers

John Supinie

Saturday

Jan 24, 2009 at 12:01 AMJan 24, 2009 at 6:02 PM

Faced with a one-shot chance at reaching the NCAA Tournament last March by advancing to the Big Ten Tournament championship game, Illinois met the team it least wanted to face. Wisconsin pulled away for a 13-point victory, its third win over the Illini by 10 points or more last season, to end Illinois' year with a losing record. Times have changed just six games into the Big Ten Conference season.

Faced with a one-shot chance at reaching the NCAA Tournament last March by advancing to the Big Ten Tournament championship game, Illinois met the team it least wanted to face.

Wisconsin pulled away for a 13-point victory, its third win over the Illini by 10 points or more last season, to make sure the the Illini would end the year with a losing record.

"We really struggled with them last year,'' said Illinois guard Trent Meacham. "We competed with most teams, but we never competed with Wisconsin. They handled us pretty easily last year.''

Times have changed just six games into the Big Ten Conference season.

After the Big Ten race warmed up with league-leading Michigan State's loss Wednesday, No. 25 Illinois hosts Wisconsin Saturday. The Badgers have won five straight over the Illini, but Wisconsin has shown vulnerability during its current three-game losing streak.

The Badgers last dropped three straight in the 2005-06 season and have never lost four straight in the regular season in coach Bo Ryan's first seven seasons. After a quick start in the Big Ten, Wisconsin lost by 13 points at Purdue, dropped an overtime heartbreaker at home to Minnesota and fell in again overtime at Iowa Wednesday.

"It looks like not a good time to play them,'' said Illinois coach Bruce Weber. "They've always been able to find a way to win. They haven't had long losing streaks since Bo's been there.''

The Badgers, the reigning Big Ten champs, figured to compete for a title behind junior guard Trevon Hughes and senior forward Marcus Landry, who played key roles in 61 wins over the previous two seasons. It's not been that easy.

Hughes didn't play in the final 5:05 in regulation and sat the entire overtime during the 73-69 loss at Iowa. His exile to the bench came after his third turnover against the Hawkeyes, all coming in the second half.

"Coaches do what they do, and that's how we are,'' Ryan said after the game. "There's no reason to tell you why somebody is or isn't in the game. No reason.''

Hughes lost 14 turnovers in the previous three games after turning it over 18 times in the first 15 games.

"He'll be ready to play," Ryan said. "He just has to be careful on his decisions and make sure the game is out there in front of him, not things that you have to try to over-create. You know, if an artist uses too much paint, it ruins the canvas.''

Landry had 13 points and eight rebounds to lead the Badgers at Iowa, but the mobile 6-foot-7, 222-pounder isn't the same scoring threat as past Badgers such as Mike Wilkinson and Brian Butch, said Illinois coach Bruce Weber.

"(Ryan) always had a flexible offense,'' Weber said. "They seemed to always have a big guy who would go with his back to the basket and get hoops when they needed it. Landry can still do that. He doesn't have quite the size and body. He has the athleticism. He's really improved his perimeter shot.

"It might be the difference in wins and losses with them that they don't have the Butch or Wilkinson who could get easy baskets under the hoop.''

No. 7 Michigan State's loss to visiting Northwestern Wednesday pulled the rest of the pack within one game of the league-leading Spartans. Weber learned about Michigan State's loss while on a recruiting trip Wednesday.

"We have to worry about ourselves,'' Weber said. "You can have fun watching the games. I went recruiting. My text messages blew up. Players were texting me. The doc was texting me. Friends. Coaches. Everybody. If you're in the middle of it, the race will be crazy. At the same time, you have to worry about yourself and take care of business.''

Over the last two seasons, that's been tough to do for the Illini when it comes to Wisconsin. Saturday will show whether they can do it this year.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com.

No. 25 Illinois (16-3, 4-2) vs. Wisconsin (12-6, 3-3)
3 p.m., Assembly Hall (16,618), Champaign (ESPN, Illini Radio Network)
ILLINOIS (16-3, 4-2) ppg rpg
C Mike Tisdale So. 7-1 11.8 4.1
F Mike Davis So. 6-9 11.1 7.3
G Demetri McCamey So. 6-3 11.8 2.7
G Trent Meacham Sr. 6-2 11.1 2.5
G Chester Frazier Sr. 6-2 5.4 4.5
WISCONSIN (12-6, 3-3)
F Marcus Landry Sr. 6-7 13.1 4.4
F Keeateon Nankivil So. 6-8 4.4 3.1
F Joe Krabbenhoft Sr. 6-7 8.3 6.6
G Trevon Hughes Jr. 6-0 12.1 3.1
G Jason Bohannon Jr. 6-0 11.4 3.1
Noteworthy: Illinois leads the series 106-73 but lost the last five meetings with the Badgers. Illinois' last win over Wisconsin came in the 2005-06 season in Madison, the only meeting between the two teams that year. . . A victory would give Illinois more wins than all of last season. . . Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks 25th nationally by shooting 47.6-percent from the field. . . Illinois also leads the Big Ten in scoring defense at 56.6 points allowed per game. . . Wisconsin's last three-game losing streak came in 2005-06, when the Badgers lost to Michigan, Illinois and Purdue. . . The Badgers set single-season school records for victories in the last two seasons with 30 and 31, respectively. . .
Key for Illini: Let's see if the Badgers can stop the Illini big men. Wisconsin, by the way, also has trouble rebounding.
Key for Badgers: Be loose. Even with the slide, the Badgers are still in the thick of the Big Ten race.
Key quote: "My first thought is that he'll have a huge game against us. Last year, he was the one guy Chester (Frazier) didn't seem to be able to control.'' -- Illinois coach Bruce Weber on Wisconsin guard Trevon Hughes, who has 14 turnovers in the Badgers' three-game losing streak.
Betting line:
Prediction: Illinois 64, Wisconsin 56

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.